The March 14 coalition on Wednesday called on the Lebanese caretaker cabinet to deal with the growing number of Syrian refugees coming to Lebanon.
“The March 14 coalition holds all the cabinet [parties] responsible of dealing [wisely] with the issue and find calm and purposeful solutions, away from the racist statements made by some ministers,” the March 14 said in a statement in a possible reference to Caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil.
The coalition also warned of the dangers emanating from the growing number of refugees flowing into Lebanon.
“Two days ago, a high ranking source in the UN warned of a demographic change in the region due to the massive displacement of Syrians,” the statement added.
“This displacement is causing a great burden that exceeds the capacity of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.”
The statement comes after Lebanese caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said last week that all Syrian refugees in Lebanon should be deported.
“Lebanon should stop receiving refugees unless for exceptional cases, and the Syrians already in Lebanon should be deported,” Bassil said during a press conference.
In September, an international support group meeting took place on the margins of the UN General Assembly to discuss ways to provide Lebanon with support in its effort to tackle the overburdening issue of the large influx of refugees from war-torn Syria.
Also, the March 14 coalition reiterated its call for the formation of a “Hezbollah free” cabinet.
“The March 14 coalition calls on President Michel Suleiman and designate-Prime Minister Tammam Salam to form a cabinet that is free from Hezbollah’s restrictions, and that is based on the Baabda declaration,” March 14 said.
Lebanon is still waiting for the formation of a new government after the resignation of Caretaker PM Najib Miqati, with March 8 and March 14 deadlocked over the composition of the cabinet.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/march-14-calls-for-solutions-for-syrian-refugees-issue
